A few thoughts regarding my experience with my Ziroli P-38:

I origionally built my '38 with US 41's in mind. Why? Because they were cheap! Big mistake. The plane flew with them, but it was doggy. I don't mean it wouldn't climb vertically, or do large loops. I mean it would take off very realistically, with a long ground roll, and run on the mains after rotation for a second or so (very cool) and would lift into the air. Then the fun would begin. It would climb only shallowly while it accelerated. The first turn off the runway heading while the plane was still accelerating was always dicey. Once the gear was up it would accelerate a bit more and become a bit more solid. But it would always slow down with turns or manouvers to the point where i could sense the was no margin for error. Definitley a sweaty palms airplane.

After two seasons of flying it with the US 41's, i got smart and bit the financial bullet . I bought a pair of Brison 3.2's 4 years ago. They made all the difference. The '38 flies with authority with them, and while I still get sweaty palms while flying it, lack of power can't be blamed for the moisture.

My plane balances as per plans without any nose ballast. I don't have gyros in mine, but i can understand Twinman's advocacy of them. I have never had an engine out stiuation with my P-38, which no doubt accounts for it's relitive geriatric status amoung P-38s.